TRACK TEAM GOALS
To promote the club, the sport of track racing, our sponsors, and well-rounded racers. We want our racers and club members to experience all types of cycling. We want as many racers as we can get to get out and race our home track, right here in Rochester Hills MI.
WHY TRACK RIDING?
Track racing is where it all began – single speed, basic bikes, no shifting to worry about, and the bikes are controlled purely by your legs. Track racing significantly improves your bike handling skills, as well as your speed and ability to recover. The workouts are intense and compact – perfect for today’s busy lifestyle. There are also no cars or trees to worry about while riding.
ABOUT TRACK RIDING
There are primarily four types of track racing, that we do at our local track:
Time trials which range in length from 200 meters to 4,000 meters and are either individual or in 2,3, or 4 person teams.
Mass start or “Endurance” events that include the scratch races, points races, basically criterium races on a track.
Fun races that teach strategy – The “Miss And Out”, “Win And Out”, and variations on these themes.
Madison racing – Team racing where 2 person teams race, taking turns in the race, and perform a flying exchange where one rider throws the other rider into the race during an exchange.
We are very fortunate to have a velodrome right here in south-eastern Michigan. It is located in Rochester Hills in Bloomer park. As both the track representative for our club and a coach at the track, I can offer our members a unique opportunity to get quick introduction to the track, as well as give one-on-one training and coaching while there.
Several of our riders use the track to improve their sprinting speed, as well as bike handling and pack handling skills. The track runs weekly training sessions where riders in attendance are matched by their skill and fitness levels so that all are able to progress and get the most out of their workouts.
There are several opportunities to race at the track, with the following general events held each year:
Weekly Schedule – May through September
Monday Night – Pace / Recovery riding. Pace lines for all levels – Open to all club members who have taken the track 101 class
Tuesday Night- Elite training night – open to all club members interested in track racing
Wednesday Night – New Rider Night/Alternate week racing
Thursday – Kids Night
Friday night – Race Night, Madison racing for elite, all other racers scratch and points races
Saturday Morning Track 101 class – Required for all new riders
Summer racing events
Spring time trails – all abilities, test your early season fitness against the clock
2Day “Get Fit” racing, 2 straight days of team racing – all abilities
Elite 2 Day Madison racing, 2 days of intense team racing, Non-elite racing as well
State Championships
Time Trial – both elite and masters
Mass Start, endurance and sprint both elite and masters
Club Activities
USA Cycling Masters Track Championships:
We have several riders that compete at the U.S. national each year. This year they will be held in Indianapolis Indiana. We will be focusing several training events to prepare our club members for these races.
Learn to Ride Days:
We will also be holding at least one, and possibly 2 Learn to ride classes as a club this season, dates to be announced. Please note, the IVBP Track does have a fleet of track bikes that are for rent, so you do not need a bike to start riding at the track.
Team Pursuit Championships:
Our club is also the promotor of the Team Pursuit championships, and as such we will be having team tryouts, and practices which will be announced via email and other social media as they are scheduled. All who wish to race, can race, but you must come to a practice session to be placed on a team.
Winter Indoor track season
We are very fortunate to be within 2 hours of some very exciting indoor racing facilities in London Ontario, and we have a brand new, world class racing facility in Hamilton Ontario. We will be planning a couple of club events this coming fall and winter to both of these.
For more information on race schedules go to http://www.ivbp.org/calendar/Calendar.html.
For weekly training schedules go to the facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Velodrome-at-Bloomer-Park/328378227827
About The Team Leader: David Hicken
I have been bike racing for over 40 years in all disciplines. My true loves are track racing and criteriums. The challenges of tight pack racing, bike handling at speed, and the strategies of the sprint are what still make it interesting after all these years. I have been racing at the Velodrome here in Rochester Hills since it was built. I have been helping coaching on a regular basis since 2008. Most all weeknights during the summer you will find me at the track, and am always willing to help any club members in using the facility. I am open to all questions and riding with any club member/racer who wants to give it a try.
